Wisconsin Basketball Thread 2019 - 20: BIG TEN CHAMPS & BPI NCAA Champs!

[yourout]

Tough night for Trice.

[jason21nl]

Gritty!

[yourout]

That was closer than it needed to be.

Does any coach get less out of talent than Pitino?

Any coach worth a damn should get 20 wins out of that talent.

[DuWayne Steurer]

Phew...... Looked like an ugly loss there for a few minutes.

[Cool Hand Lucroy]

 

Basically, 3FG% is a pretty "random" stat but 3FGA/FGA is linked very closely to a defensive style/philosophy.

 

Definitely did not mean to come off as argumentative. Sorry if it came off as such. Totally agree with this.

 

Minnesota's athleticism had me nervous for this one, but the Badgers toughed it out and made some big shots down the stretch. The game-winning play was drawn up beautifully, and then Reuvers, who has looked totally outclassed by Oturu about every minute he's been on the floor with him, played just about the best D possible.

 

Great work. Good to keep the mojo rolling.

[Samurai Bucky]

If they lost after a 12-point lead, [sarcasm]Gard would definitely be on the hot seat[/sarcasm].

[jjfanec]

Badgers currently ranked 24 in AP and Coaches. Somehow they dropped from 27 to 30 in the NET rankings. Other computer rankings - Kenpom 24, RPI 32, BPI 25.

 

All the rankings seem to say between 6-8 seed - bracket matrix has them between a 5 and 8 seed (actually pretty consistent 5 or 6 seed). They end with two very winnable games so I would say a 5-7 seed would then be likely depending on Big Ten Tourney results.

 

That is pretty crazy considering where this team was at not that long ago

[tmwiese55]

If they lost after a 12-point lead, [sarcasm]Gard would definitely be on the hot seat[/sarcasm].

 

I think it would be cool to pull of this regular season title. could be a good way for Gard to go out on top when he gets fired after the year if they lose in the 1st round of the big tourney.

[homer]

If they lost after a 12-point lead, [sarcasm]Gard would definitely be on the hot seat[/sarcasm].

 

I think it would be cool to pull of this regular season title. could be a good way for Gard to go out on top when he gets fired after the year if they lose in the 1st round of the big tourney.

 

And wins B1G Coach of the Year.

[LouisEly]

That was closer than it needed to be.

Does any coach get less out of talent than Pitino?

Any coach worth a damn should get 20 wins out of that talent.

If they were in any other conference except for the Big East, they probably would have 20 wins this year.

 

In loosely related news, is there any bigger yet quieter news in college basketball this year that North Carolina is 12-17 and in last place in the ACC?

[Oxy]

Badgers currently ranked 24 in AP and Coaches. Somehow they dropped from 27 to 30 in the NET rankings. Other computer rankings - Kenpom 24, RPI 32, BPI 25.

 

All the rankings seem to say between 6-8 seed - bracket matrix has them between a 5 and 8 seed (actually pretty consistent 5 or 6 seed). They end with two very winnable games so I would say a 5-7 seed would then be likely depending on Big Ten Tourney results.

 

That is pretty crazy considering where this team was at not that long ago

 

I don't think that NET ranking has ANY recency bias (in this case I'm counting that as a negative...I think more recent games SHOULD count for more than games in December). I'm pretty sure that KenPom has that baked into his numbers and I have no idea about BPI.

 

Any human would look at the schedule and the make-up of the roster (+Potter-King) and bump them up a seed line or 3 based on how they are playing right now.

[homer]

Rutgers beats Maryland. UW has chance to tie for the conference lead if they win tomorrow.

[yourout]

Rutgers beats Maryland. UW has chance to tie for the conference lead if they win tomorrow.

 

Winning a share of the title would be one hell of an accomplishment.

[brwrsfan]

They should beat NW tomorrow - they are terrible. Winning at Indiana will be tough, especially knowing that a win means a share of the conference title (assuming a win tonight). But to think they even have a shot right now is remarkable.

 

Those Iowa and Illinois losses still sting though, both of those were games they definitely could have won.

[homer]

They should beat NW tomorrow - they are terrible. Winning at Indiana will be tough, especially knowing that a win means a share of the conference title (assuming a win tonight). But to think they even have a shot right now is remarkable.

 

Those Iowa and Illinois losses still sting though, both of those were games they definitely could have won.

 

yeah but they had a few squeakers that went their way too - MSU, Maryland, Minnesota. So their record is probably what it should be all things considered.

[yourout]

Good start followed by 6 minutes of turnovers and clanks.

[jason21nl]

Badgers games are so hard to watch. This crowd is also PATHETIC

[yourout]

Disappointing half.

[yourout]

Well it's a win.

Going to need to play better than that at Indiana to get the win.

Could not ask for more with having a chance to win a Big Ten title on the last day.

[PeaveyFury]

20 wins and a win away from a Big Ten Championship. Unreal.

[homer]

Played like junk and still won by 15.

[Oxy]

Played like junk and still won by 15.

 

Bingo. That's 5 MORE points than a "relevant" margin according to NET...in a low scoring game....

 

This is one of my favorite Badger teams of all-time. No team will top the '03 team, but that's for personal reasons (I got my hand in Sports Illustrated after storming the court after beating Illinois for the conference championship...remember when magazines were a thing?).

 

The '13 team is also a favorite, although that's because every other Wisconsin "fan" hates that team and they went 4-0 against the National runner-up Michigan and Offensive Efficiency #1 Indiana that year.

 

The 3 Final 4 teams are pretty high on my list too.

 

 

Also: Big Kudos to Rashard Griffith, Michael Finley and Howard Moore...3 college graduates who Scott Van Pelt recognized tonight for getting their degree.

[Oxy]

I know every team can look back on a few games and wonder 'what if', but you really have to wonder where this team would be sitting right now if Potter had been eligible in the non-conference season. If they could have turned that St. Mary's game, or even one of the two on a neutral court in NY, they'd be having a much different season. Heck, if they hang on to their lead vs. Iowa and flip that one-point home loss to Illinois, they're tied for first in the Big Ten. Such an odd season.

 

It's mostly window dressing at this point. They probably weren't going to truly contend for a B1G title this year either way (although their next 9 games are all pretty winnable), so then it's basically a difference in seeding, which I cared about 15 years ago, but when you make the tourney every year the less that matters and the more that matchups and being "hot" at the right time matter. Last year they were a 5 seed and an underdog in the first game. 3 years ago they got jobbed by the committee with an 8 seed and ended up beating #1 seed defending Champs Villanova anyway (who was coaching then?) in the 2nd round. Just get in and be playing well at the right time and you can make a run.

 

Thank goodness the coaching staff and players don't care about "What ifs" and are more concerned about winning the next game. One more game.

[Cool Hand Lucroy]

Played like junk and still won by 15.

 

Bingo. That's 5 MORE points than a "relevant" margin according to NET...in a low scoring game....

 

This is one of my favorite Badger teams of all-time. No team will top the '03 team, but that's for personal reasons (I got my hand in Sports Illustrated after storming the court after beating Illinois for the conference championship...remember when magazines were a thing?).

 

The '13 team is also a favorite, although that's because every other Wisconsin "fan" hates that team and they went 4-0 against the National runner-up Michigan and Offensive Efficiency #1 Indiana that year.

 

The 3 Final 4 teams are pretty high on my list too.

 

 

Also: Big Kudos to Rashard Griffith, Michael Finley and Howard Moore...3 college graduates who Scott Van Pelt recognized tonight for getting their degree.

 

'03 has one of the most fun comebacks I've ever seen. Down what? 13? With 3 minutes to go? And then Freddie Owens from the corner! Sometimes, when I'm watching a game, I still think, well, as long as we're within 13 with 3 minutes to go, there's always the chance. And then they gave Kentucky everything they could handle.

 

That '13 team was fun too. The Michigan game at the Kohl in particular. Brust hits a miracle shot to send it OT, and then they win it. Really the precursor to the great runs the next couple of years (especially because Gasser got the extra year while guys around him got PT), just didn't have the scoring to really make a go of it (Dekker not quite ready) and Marshall Henderson got it going in the tournament. Also, Kaminsky had that broken nose just as he was starting to find himself. I've never been surprised by a Wisconsin tournament loss like I was by Ole Miss that year. Really thought that team was solid enough to make a run, and losing to an SEC team with one main scorer was a big surprise. Those are the teams UW usually just gobbles up, and I figured they were AT LEAST going to be in a coin-flip game for the Sweet 16 just like a bunch of prior Badger teams.

 

Maybe the Georgia State loss in 2001 is a close second. But that year was a mess with DB retiring and the team just never having the mojo in the same way. SW MO St. was the ugliest but not all that crazy given the style of play and a good team out of the Valley that ended up rolling Tennessee the very next game.

[OldHeidelberg]

 

'03 has one of the most fun comebacks I've ever seen. Down what? 13? With 3 minutes to go? And then Freddie Owens from the corner! Sometimes, when I'm watching a game, I still think, well, as long as we're within 13 with 3 minutes to go, there's always the chance. And then they gave Kentucky everything they could handle.

 

That '13 team was fun too. The Michigan game at the Kohl in particular. Brust hits a miracle shot to send it OT, and then they win it. Really the precursor to the great runs the next couple of years (especially because Gasser got the extra year while guys around him got PT), just didn't have the scoring to really make a go of it (Dekker not quite ready) and Marshall Henderson got it going in the tournament. Also, Kaminsky had that broken nose just as he was starting to find himself. I've never been surprised by a Wisconsin tournament loss like I was by Ole Miss that year. Really thought that team was solid enough to make a run, and losing to an SEC team with one main scorer was a big surprise. Those are the teams UW usually just gobbles up, and I figured they were AT LEAST going to be in a coin-flip game for the Sweet 16 just like a bunch of prior Badger teams.

 

Maybe the Georgia State loss in 2001 is a close second. But that year was a mess with DB retiring and the team just never having the mojo in the same way. SW MO St. was the ugliest but not all that crazy given the style of play and a good team out of the Valley that ended up rolling Tennessee the very next game.

 

03 lived in Minneapolis and watched the Freddy Owens game at a friends house. We were all so excited we bought sweet 16 tickets at the Metrodump and Marquette was there as well. Somehow ended up with Uecker seats, never forget the Wilkinson travel late and watching Penney run off the floor for the last time a couple of minutes later, Penney was one of my all time favorites just for destroying the Gophers all by himself one game. What a let down. Did get to see Marquette cut down the nets a couple of days later, I liked them a lot better back then.

 

They have made the tourney so many times it's all sort of a blur now. Koenig's buzzer beater against Xavier and Bill Murray was one of the best. The final four win over Kentucky was probably the all time program high point, man was I drunk. Getting beat by Curry when I wanted a shot at Kansas was pretty high on my disappointment list, we always got killed by 3 point shooting mid majors it seemed.